Current passport turnaround time?

[cruz.n.carebear]

Does anyone know how fast the passports are being created right now? I'm looking at a European cruise and want to make sure I have enough time to get my passport if we decide to book it.

[NCTribeFan]

Don't rely on the info you receive here. It can vary widely.

 

Check with the State Department.

[mykiddiewinks]

When I was in the post office last week the lady in front of me was told 4-6 weeks.

[mykiddiewinks]

Go to http://www.travel.state.gov they post current processing times

[rjhelmes]

2 months ago I sent away for a renewal and it was 3 weeks to get the passport book back. A friend sent away for a new book in June and took about 4 weeks. Not sure if they slow down around the holidays though. I would probably allow the full 4-6 weeks they suggest.

[B and C Blake]

To be honest ... It does vary according to the season.

 

The times also vary according to how many names changes someone has had.

 

We applied last year 2010 at the end of Oct. We had our passports within 2 weeks and our BC documents arrived a few days later.

 

I have read the same time frames from this year 2011.

 

If you wait and send them in during a high season .. aka when people are getting their income tax refunds you may be waiting the standard 4-6 weeks.

 

Expect 4-6 weeks return and be surprised if you get them back sooner.

[vermonter16]

DH sent his in at the very end of September for a renewal. He got it back in two weeks.

[mialover]

My husband applied for his on Oct. 29th (Saturday) and came on Nov. 10th (Thursday) less than 2 weeks later. They told him it would arrive by the end of November when he brought his application to the post office.

[CincyLucy]

I applied in July and it took 53 days to get it back!

[tnf]

got my DS a passport last month and it was here within 2 weeks

[ccruisequeen]

new passports have an electronic chip in them for e xtra security, according to a local news report on them. the TV station also said 4-6 weeks.

[Jasalth]

I just want to say no matter what, take the passport times with a grain of salt!

 

My oldest son got his first passport 8 years ago now and had his renewal 3 years ago. For some reason, we have nothing but problems with his passports! Our youngest got his passport in 3 weeks at the time (2 weeks for the renewal), while our oldest took close to 8 months the first time and 2 for the renewal. This was all before the documentation was made stricter.

 

I am not saying our experience was a normal one, but things do happen. In our case, I had to repeatedly send in proof that I was his mother. Not like, we aren't sure if this is really the father, but proof I gave birth to him :rolleyes: This was all for a 5 year old. It got so bad, we actually got state representatives involved because we were running out of options, and though 10 months would be fine to get their passports in, silly us!

 

Things can and do happen, if you feel you need it sooner (or would want to know about problems with their new rules sooner) rather than later, the expedited method would probably be the best way to go.

[marshalltp]

Got our 6 years olds renewal (treated like a new app), application on Oct 29 at the post office and received it on Nov 9th....

[CruisingAlong1]

If you do it within 2 weeks of you trip you can get it in a couple of days. You have to go to the state department office directly not the post office. There are 13 in the US ( you can look them up). My SO put in for his this morning, they told him to come back on Wednesday to pick it up. You have to have proof of paid itinerary though.

[CVITO]

I received mine within two weeks & my birth certificate came back about a week after that. :)

[cruz.n.carebear]

Thanks for all the replies!